How to Sell a Car on Craigslist: A Step by Step Guide

March 15, 2012

These days, selling a car basically means selling a car on Craigslist. Learn how to sell a car on Craigslist for top dollar.

Nearly everyone at some point in their lives will need to sell their car, but now with the age of computers and the Internet, not many people know exactly how to get the word out there. There are literally hundreds of websites that have cars for sale. In this article, you'll learn the best tips to sell your car on craigslist; the world's largest free classified ad website.

As far as free online ads go, craigslist is king. With listings in nearly every US metropolitan area as well as cities around the world, it is by far the most visited free selling site there is. More visitors means more exposure, and that translates into more leads to help you sell your car. However, there are some things you need to know in order to sell anything on craigslist, be it your car or that collection of sports cards you've had since childhood.

The first step to making a good craigslist ad for your vehicle is to take pictures. Lots of them. Meaningful pictures that highlight the good (and possibly the bad) of a vehicle will speak volumes toward its condition. If your car has cosmetic issues that are serious (dents, rust, etc.) it is best to include photos of those parts too. The better you represent your car in the ad the more likely someone who is coming to look at it will drive away a happy person, and you'll have money in your pocket. If you have more than four images (you should!), upload them to an external photo hosting website such as Imageshack or Photobucket and use the links there to host your images.

The next thing you need to do is write your description. Again, the more honest you can be the better. Key things to include are the car's model year, mileage, power features (such as power windows, locks, seats, trunk) and other positive things about your vehicle such as paint condition. Then you can begin listing the negative things about your vehicle (rust, dents, ripped seats, etc.). Another thing that you need to include in order to have a successful ad is a testimonial from you. Ask yourself how the car drives, whether or not you would be ready and willing to drive it across the country if you needed to. Positive remarks like this will often stir interest, and send more calls and emails your way.

Once you put together your text description and add your images, think of a price. To find accurate pricing quotes on your vehicle, check out the Kelly Blue Book. If you price your car too high, you won't be receiving any calls, but on the same token if you price it too low someone will get a screaming deal and take you to the cleaners, so to speak. Price a car fairly, post an accurate description, and take meaningful, clear pictures, and with the large craigslist audience, it'll practically sell itself.